Moving between Heathrow's terminals for a reason other than a booked connecting flight, to meet someone, drop off at the wrong building, or collect luggage from another terminal, means travelling landside on foot, by free intra-airport train, or by free shuttle bus. Allow 20 minutes for the walk between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, and 60 to 90 minutes for any journey involving Terminal 4 or Terminal 5, since those two sit apart from the central terminal area and usually need a train or bus plus walking and waiting time.
First, work out which situation you're in
Heathrow treats terminal movement differently depending on why you're doing it, and mixing these up is the most common way people underestimate how long it takes.
- Booked connecting flight, one ticket, bags checked through. You stay airside the whole time. Follow the purple Flight Connections signs and, if your two flights use different terminals, you'll be directed to a dedicated airside connections bus. This does not apply to the guidance below, since you never re-enter the public landside area. See our connection time guide for how much buffer to leave between flights.
- Separate tickets, or a self-transfer. You're treated as arriving and departing again: clear immigration, collect any checked baggage, travel landside between terminals, then check in and clear security again at the new terminal. Budget considerably more time than a straightforward terminal move, since baggage reclaim and a fresh security queue are usually the slowest parts.
- Meeting someone, dropping off at the wrong terminal, or just visiting. You move landside only, on foot, by free rail, or by free shuttle bus, without going through security. This is what the rest of this guide covers.
Landside options between terminals
On foot. The only two terminals directly linked by a walking route are Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, joined by a covered, step-free underground walkway in the central terminal area that takes about 10 minutes at a normal pace, longer with heavy luggage. There is no walking route to or from Terminal 4 or Terminal 5.
By free rail. Heathrow's own rail stations connect airside and landside travellers for free within the airport boundary when you tap in and out at Heathrow stations only. The Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 station sits in the central area, with free trains running the short hop out to Terminal 5 roughly every 15 minutes, taking around 5 to 7 minutes. The Elizabeth line and Piccadilly line also call at Terminal 4's own station, again free between Heathrow's stations, but there is no direct rail link straight between Terminal 4 and Terminal 5. A T4-T5 rail journey usually means changing at the central Terminals 2 & 3 station, adding to the overall time.
By free shuttle bus. Free landside shuttle buses run between all four terminals, with wheelchair access and luggage space, for anyone who doesn't want to use the rail option or is moving at a time when trains are less frequent. Check current timings on the Heathrow app or terminal information screens before you set off, since frequency varies through the day.
How long to allow, by route
| Route | Method | Approximate time |
|---|---|---|
| T2 to T3 | Walk (covered, step-free) | About 10 minutes |
| T2/T3 to T5 | Free rail | 5 to 7 minutes on the train, 20 to 40 minutes door to door with walking and waiting |
| T2/T3 to T4 | Free rail (Elizabeth or Piccadilly line) | 20 to 35 minutes door to door |
| T4 to T5 | Free rail (change at T2/T3) or shuttle bus | 60 to 90 minutes allowing for the change or bus timing |
These are movement estimates only, not minimum connection times for a booked flight, and they exclude any security, immigration or check-in queue.
If you've been told the wrong terminal
Airlines occasionally change terminals with little notice, and a printed itinerary or an old booking confirmation can be out of date. If you're not sure, check your terminal against your airline and flight number using our guide to finding your Heathrow terminal before you set off from home, since it's far easier to redirect a taxi or drop-off than to backtrack across the airport once you've arrived at the wrong building.
Meeting someone arriving at a different terminal to where you're waiting
If you're waiting at the wrong terminal to meet an arriving passenger, use the same free rail or shuttle bus options above to move landside to the correct terminal's arrivals area. Confirm the terminal from the airline or flight tracker rather than an old booking, and check our guide to where to meet at Heathrow arrivals for where each terminal's meeting point actually is once you're there.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free to travel between Heathrow terminals?
Yes. Walking, the free intra-airport rail journeys between Heathrow's own stations, and the free landside shuttle buses all cost nothing, provided you tap in and out only at Heathrow stations rather than travelling onward into London.
How long does it take to get from Terminal 5 to Terminal 4?
Allow 60 to 90 minutes. There's no direct rail link between the two, so you'll usually change at the central Terminals 2 & 3 station, or use the free shuttle bus instead.
Can I walk between any of Heathrow's terminals?
Only between Terminal 2 and Terminal 3, via a covered, step-free underground walkway that takes about 10 minutes. Terminal 4 and Terminal 5 have no walking link to any other terminal.
Is this the same as a flight connection?
No. A booked connecting flight on one ticket stays airside and uses a separate connections bus system with purple signage; this guide covers landside movement for meeters, greeters and passengers who need to correct a wrong terminal.
What if I'm on separate tickets and need to change terminals?
Treat it as arriving and departing again: clear immigration, collect any baggage, move landside using the options above, then check in and clear security afresh at the new terminal. Build in significantly more time than a simple terminal transfer.
Where do I check which terminal my flight uses?
Use your airline and flight number to confirm the current terminal, since airlines do sometimes change terminal assignments. See our guide to finding your Heathrow terminal for how to check.